Wildcats eye a win vs. Friars

DURHAM — After scoring only one goal on 52 shots in a 4-1 home loss to Merrimack, the University of New Hampshire hockey team emphasized all last week the importance of taking away the goalie’s eyes.

Maybe the Wildcats should have taken away his equipment too.

Jon Gillies made a terrific glove save on Kevin Goumas late in Sunday’s game that could have meant the difference between a tie and a possible loss for Providence.

The move temporarily preserved a 3-2 lead, although UNH’s Scott Pavelski scored the tying goal with 3:26 remaining in the third period that forced overtime and salvaged a Hockey East point.

“He was stopping everything,” Pavelski said of Gillies, who made 41 saves on 44 shots. “It seems like every time we play him he makes all the first stops as long as he can see them. We were just trying to get bodies in front and take his eyes away. Luckily at the end he was scrambling a little bit and gave me a corner of the net.”

The Wildcats will likely use the same strategy when the clubs meet again Wednesday night (7) at PC’s Schneider Arena. The game was originally scheduled for last Friday, but was postponed because of the blizzard.

As good as Gillies has been during his freshman season, the Wildcats have beaten him eight times in two games, although they have just one of a possible four points to show for it.

They dropped a 6-5 decision on Jan. 19 after falling behind by scores of 4-0 and 5-1. Fifth-ranked UNH (16-7-3, 11-6-2 HE) will be trying to snap a two-game winless streak Wednesday.

The Friars (10-10-6, 8-6-5 HE) haven’t won since beating UNH. They’re 0-1-3 in their last four games, including three consecutive ties.

The Wildcats settled for a tie Sunday night, despite taking a 2-1 lead early in the third period on a power-play goal by Dan Correale 30 seconds in.

“We’ll take the tie,” UNH coach Dick Umile said. “It’s a lot better than losing the game, I can tell you that. We had the lead. I thought we came out in the third period and did what we had to do and went ahead.”

“I don’t think there’s such a thing as a good tie or a bad tie,” said sophomore forward Grayson Downing, who had a goal and an assist. “It’s just a tie. That’s the way I think about it. You don’t win, you don’t lose. It’s sort of a blah result.”

PC freshman Nick Saracino scored twice 4:30 apart as the Friars regained the lead. UNH uncharacteristically gave up two power-play goals Sunday after allowing only three in 59 chances over its first 18 league games

“Their second goal wasn’t a good goal,” Umile said. “The kid came off the bench and they found him coming down the slot uncovered. It was an unfortunate line change for us.”

Although Gillies’ save on Goumas was demoralizing at the time and had the Wildcats’ leading scorer in a state of disbelief, the Wildcats battled back to tie the game.

“Any time you have a goalie of that caliber he’s eventually going to steal one,” Downing said. “If (Goumas) had put that one in it’s a different game.”

Gillies victimized Pavelski and Downing early in the first period to prevent UNH from jumping out to a quick lead.

The tie left the Wildcats in a second-place tie with Merrimack in the league standings. They’re both one point behind Boston College.

“It was a hard-fought game,” Umile said. “It went back and forth. We had the lead, gave it up and all of a sudden we’re behind. The guys stayed with it and found a way to tie it up.”

“For the standings we need to get as many points as possible,” Pavelski said, “so to tie it up late was good. We’re happy with the one point, but you always wish you can get two.”

Providence its tied for fourth with Boston University, three points behind UNH and Merrimack.

“This will be a big one Wednesday,” Umile said.

The Wildcats won’t see the Whittemore Center for a while, except to practice. Wednesday’s contest is the first of four straight road games for the Wildcats, who play at BC next Sunday.

“You want to win at home,” Pavelski said. “Going on the road is tough, getting off the bus and trying to get your legs going. Some nights are harder than others.”

“It would have been nice to get that win, especially going into overtime,” Downing said. “You always think one shot can do it.”

UNH also has a two-game series at Vermont before coming home for four straight games against Massachusetts and Maine to close out the regular season.

The Wildcats have 96 shots on goal in the their last two games, but only have a loss and a tie to show for it.

“We haven’t gotten the results we wanted recently,” Downing said, “but the past couple weeks we’ve played harder than we had been after Christmas. It’s playoff hockey right now.”

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